Program/Scope – Five master suites with private entrances (living room, kitchen, garden, two bedrooms, two bathrooms each), four guest suites, theater, high capacity kitchen, dining room to seat the entire family for holidays (20 people), elevated herb garden, wine room, multiple shared family spaces (indoor and outdoor), staff room, five-car garage, outdoor dining for 20, courtyard, pool, spa.

Special Challenges – The challenge was designing a building to meet the needs of individual families within a unified language and methodology for the entire home. It’s for current and future generations of a Chinese-American family, most of whom live an urban life. Thus, this home is about the connection to nature as well as to one another. Nature not only surrounds the house but it’s
brought up to all levels and through the central courtyard, characterized by locally sourced wood, stone, and plantings. Shared spaces, both indoor and out, create a Californian version of the hutong concept. Each suite’s private garden is connected to the main garden terrace level by its own spiral staircase. As one can descend from their wood-clad suite to the glass-walled podium below, there is both stability and individuality for each family member.